“Madness”, a term to be banned, according to Dr Hachem Tyal

Tuesday 08th October 2024 01:03 PM

This cry from the heart is launched by Dr Hachem Tyal, president of the Moroccan Society of Dynamic Psychiatry (MADP) and director of the Villa Les Lilas clinic, who campaigns for more humane and respectful care for people with mental disorders.

“Madness”: a word heavy with stigma

“This word, used too often, carries with it centuries of stigma, fear and incomprehension,” explains Dr Tyal. “By using this term, we reduce thousands of patients to a caricatured and reductive image, ignoring major advances in psychiatry and the complex nuances of mental illness. “.

It is time to move away from this archaic vision and recognize that mental disorders, like physical illnesses, are very real, well diagnosed, and above all well treated.

Mental illnesses: a well-explored medical reality

Mental disorders, whether depression, anxiety, schizophrenia or bipolarity, are today better understood thanks to progress in scientific research. “Contrary to popular belief, psychiatry has made giant leaps in recent decades.

“Diagnoses are more precise, and treatments have radically changed the situation,” says Dr. Tyal.

Understanding brain mechanisms, neurotransmitters and genetic or environmental risk factors now makes it possible to implement personalized and effective treatment.

Treatments that change lives

Today, a person suffering from a mental illness can benefit from a variety of treatments, ranging from drug therapies to psychotherapeutic approaches, including relaxation techniques and even behavioral therapies.

“These treatments, when well adapted, allow patients to return to a normal personal, family and professional life,” assures Dr Tyal.
“We have examples of people who, after undergoing treatment, returned to their jobs, started families and are living their daily lives to the fullest. »

Changing the outlook of society

For this progress to translate into everyday reality, it is crucial to change the way society views mental illnesses.

Dr Tyal insists: “It is essential that we adopt more inclusive and respectful language, so as not to lock patients into demeaning labels. Words have immense power. By banning terms like “insanity,” we help break down the barriers of fear and rejection. »

Comprehensive and human support

Dr Hachem Tyal also calls for strengthening mental health infrastructures in Morocco, in order to allow each patient to access comprehensive, human-centered care. “Mental health must no longer be relegated to the background. We need more specialized centers, more awareness campaigns, and above all, everyone, at their own level, must contribute to breaking taboos. »

On this World Mental Health Day, the message is clear: it is time to replace fear with understanding, rejection with empathy, and hurtful words with terms of respect and kindness. Mental disorders are neither a sign of weakness nor inevitable: they are medical realities that we must approach with intelligence and solidarity.